[AlbanianGenome]

I have a 15" 1.25ghz Albook and since my house is carpeted I generate a lot when walking around. When I sit down to use my computer I always seems to shock myself on the computer. Number one, do you guys think this is harmful to the powerbook itself? Supposedly the unit is protected on the inside from all of this. Could this static cause damage to the battery itself? Just bought a new battery after my old one lasted 2 years, but only 167 cycles. People say to touch something metal before touching your powerbook, done that, still end up shocking the computer a bit. Maybe I should just list as an X-Men sometime soon Any thoughts about any of this are welcome. With love and gratitude.

[jamil5454]

Take your socks off?

[f1000]

Originally Posted by AlbanianGenome

Number one, do you guys think this is harmful to the powerbook itself?

No.

[ibook_steve]

Originally Posted by f1000

No.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. You should be discharged as much as possible before using any electronic equipment. You never know what shock might be the one that is too much for the chassis grounding to handle. Obviously, this is difficult in certain environments. As for the damage this can cause, it wouldn't necessarily harm the battery, but it could damage the system power supply effectively bricking your system. If even discharging yourself still produces shocks when you touch the machine, make sure the PB is plugged into a surge protector. Also, find a better way to discharge yourself. I always discharge myself on my metal cubicle frame because I'm always charged up when I take my coat off in the morning.

Steve

[analogika]

ibook_steve is KIND OF right.

The problem is that the Powerbook will ALWAYS shock you if you're running it on mains electricity through the two-prong adapter (rather than the extension cord), since the casing will always have a very slight but measurable AC current running through it (117V AC).

I know this because my Alubook would ALWAYS spark when I connected my firewire hard drives and audio interface (which have their own power supplies), and I called up Apple, concerned about a Powerbook grounding defect frying several thousand dollars' worth of studio hardware.

Apparently, it's normal.

They told me to use the three-prong extension cord if I was feeling alarmed.

So I do.

[f1000]

Originally Posted by ibook_steve

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong. You should be discharged as much as possible before using any electronic equipment. You never know what shock might be the one that is too much for the chassis grounding to handle.

No, a Faraday cage doesn't need to be grounded in order to provide protection to the electronic components inside. An unplugged laptop will still be impervious to electrostatic shock from your fingers. Chassis grounding is there to protect YOU from potential electrical faults.

[f1000]

Originally Posted by analogika

The problem is that the Powerbook will ALWAYS shock you if you're running it on mains electricity through the two-prong adapter (rather than the extension cord), since the casing will always have a very slight but measurable AC current running through it (117V AC).

I know what you're talking about. I sometimes feel an electrical "buzz" when I touch my plugged in AluBook, but this is a different issue from electrostatic (triboelectric) shock.

I've never seen sparks when connecting FireWire components, though. That would seriously bother me.

[Nai no Kami]

I have experienced some shocks with my PowerBook. If the shock is produced while reaching my finger to the trackpad, it behaves jerky for a while; then goes back to normal.

[analogika]

Originally Posted by f1000

I know what you're talking about. I sometimes feel an electrical "buzz" when I touch my plugged in AluBook, but this is a different issue from electrostatic (triboelectric) shock.

I've never seen sparks when connecting FireWire components, though. That would seriously bother me.

Yes, it's different from electrostatic shock.

I'm suggesting that 99 times out of a hundred, the shock is actually caused by the AC current running through the Powerbook's skin.

That is to say, I'd get shocked EVERY TIME, as would every single powered component I'd connect to the Powerbook, and haven't AT ALL since I use the grounded cable.

[Sijmen]

Wearing sythetic clothing generates electricity when you body is moving around. Try to minimize the use of synthetic fibres.
My PB is placed in such a pisition that I have to touch the metal from my desk in order to position myself(pulling the chair towards the desk).